………..Some people never learn….

This in off the ESPN.com website regarding former Heisman Trophy Winner and one time all world running back Ricky Williams. You might remember he failed several drug tests, was banished to Canada to play football because the NFL suspended him for a year. About 2 months ago, he said he was clean and ready to come back to the NFL. Not so fast, sir…
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Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams tested positive for marijuana in April and will not be allowed to apply for reinstatement to the NFL until September, sources said.

Williams was suspended last year for violation of the substance abuse policy and was eligible to be reinstated this month, but the league’s medical advisors that oversee Williams’ personal rehabilitation program recently notified commissioner Roger Goodell of the positive test, sources said.

The doctors also recommended that Williams not be allowed to apply for reinstatement until September, sources said. The commissioner usually adheres to the advice of the medical advisors under the substance abuse policy.

“Falling off the wagon is part of rehab,” a source said. “Based on the medical evidence in Ricky’s case, the doctors say it’s too early to come back. He had the positive test last month. Remember, he’s been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder — that’s a real disease and a good percentage of those folks self-medicate with substances like marijuana, often at the moment they are about to have a high level of social interaction.”

League spokesman Greg Aiello said the NFL would have no comment, as did Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene.

David Cornwell, an attorney who has represented Williams during his substance abuse cases, said he would honor the confidentiality policies in effect with another no comment.

Titans add QB and Former Colts LB…………

The Titans just added depth at QB and they signed former Colts Linebacker Gilbert Gardner who released earlier this week. This says to me the Titans are not comfortable with Kerry Collins as Vince’s back-up. What are your thoughts?

Here’s the Titans release……

TITANS ADD QB RATTAY AND LB GARDNER

NASHVILLE, TENN. – The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with QB Tim Rattay and claimed LB Gilbert Gardner off waivers from Indianapolis. Additionally, the Titans added first-year free agents OL Marques Ogden and FB Jonathan Evans.

“Tim (Rattay) will come in to learn our system, compete for a spot on our roster and give us the option of keeping three quarterbacks,” said Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt. “Gardner is a player who improves our outside linebacker depth as someone who has seen time as a starter and has the tools to be an effective special teams contributor.”

A seven-year veteran, Rattay (6-0, 200) has started 18 NFL games while playing for San Francisco and Tampa Bay. Last year for the Buccaneers, he played in the final four games of the season with two starts and threw for 748 yards and four touchdowns. His most extensive action and production came with the 49ers in 2004, when he started nine games and amassed 2,169 passing yards and 10 touchdowns. During that season, Rattay threw for a career-high 417 yards and two touchdowns in an October win over Arizona. He was a seventh-round selection by San Francisco in the 2000 NFL Draft from Louisiana Tech.

Gardner (6-1, 228) has played three NFL seasons for the Indianapolis Colts, totaling 97 tackles and 15 starts. Last year, he started 12 games and registered 66 tackles for the Super Bowl Champion Colts. Gardner was a third round selection for the Colts in the 2004 NFL Draft from Purdue.

Ogden and Evans have spent time with multiple NFL teams and have played in NFL Europe.

To make room for the additions, the Titans waived DT Marcus White and undrafted rookies FB Nic Luc and DT Adrian Haywood.

………Daytime Baseball…

Looked on the Nashville Sounds schedule Sunday to see what time they played on Monday. Found the time and did a double take. 10:30, in the AM. What? Are you kidding me? Baseball, except on the weekends should be at night.

Well, call me a turncoat and now a believer. Monday at Greer Stadium, nearly 12,000 people were at the game. 12,000! It was part of promotion with kids and and schools as a reward for getting high marks in reading.

I talked to a friend of mine who is a baseball agent and he represents about 25 guys, 20 or so are in the minor leagues. He says minor league teams all over the country are having 10 am starts, Noon starts, etc, and that their attendance is up nearly 75 percent when they have those day games.

I don’t see it is a trend but I do see more and more games starting earlier. 12,000 folks proved me wrong on Monday.

LADY VOLS SOFTBALL WIN SEC TITLE

What a truly historic day for the No. 2 Tennessee softball program on a gorgeous Sunday in front of a record crowd of 1,836 fans at Tyson Park. The Big Orange (53-4, 23-4 SEC) rewarded fans that had lined up outside the ticket booth as early as 6:15 a.m. in order to see the country’s first 1-2 matchup of the season by sweeping No. 1 Alabama (50-6, 21-6 SEC) in a doubleheader (9-2, 4-0) to clinch their first Southeastern Conference regular season title. No. 4 LSU lost 2-of-3 at Georgia.

Senior pitcher Monica Abbott added to the day’s celebration by breaking the prestigious NCAA Division I career strikeout record with her first K, number 2,266. With the sweep, the Lady Vols also clinched the top seed for next weekend’s SEC Tournament in Auburn, Ala.

Titans Rookie Camp………

The Titans held Rookie Camp today and I must say these guys look better in person than they do on paper or in college video clips.

The funniest thing today was Michael Griffin wearing #10. The Titans confirmed that Vince Young has not been traded or released Coach Fisher joked it is the only number he definetly won’t get. My guess is that 27 (Griffin’s college #) is not available because the Titans will eventually retire Eddie George’s #27.

Fisher also said Griffin will play cornerback not safety.

This is what stood out for me today………Chris Henry looks about as good as any 2nd round running back I’ve ever seen. This guy is built like a Mack Truck and runs like a Porsche 911 Turbo. And he made several catches which says to me he’s got a good pair of hands for a RB.

Only time will tell.

……..Ahh, Ziggy and the Chicago Cubs, Twins?

Got this forwarded to us by Preds Play by Play guru Pete Weber regarding the Chicago Cubs. It is pretty funny, enjoy.

21 Major events since the Cubs won their last World Series Championship:

1. Radio was invented; Cubs fans got to hear their team lose.
2. TV was invented; Cubs fans got to see their team lose.
3. Baseball added 14 teams; Cubs fans get to see and hear their team lose to MORE clubs!
4. George Burns celebrated his 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th, 90th and 100th birthdays.
5. Haley’s comet passed Earth twice.
6. Harry Caray was born….and died.
Incredible, but true.
7. The NBA, NHL and NFL were formed, and ALL Chicago teams won championships in each league.
8. Man landed on the moon, as have several home runs given up by Cubs pitchers.
9. Sixteen U.S. Presidents were elected.

10. There were 11 amendments added to the Constitution.
11. Prohibition was created and repealed.
12. The Titanic was built, set sail, sank, was discovered and became the subject of major motion pictures, the latest giving Cubs fans hope that something that finishes on the bottom can come out on top.
13. Wrigley Field was built and becomes the oldest park in the National League.
14. Flag poles were erected on Wrigley Field roof to hold all of the team’s future World Series pennants. Those flag poles have since rusted and been taken down.
15. A combination of 40 Summer and Winter Olympics have been held.
16. Thirteen baseball players have won the Triple Crown; several thanked Cubs pitchers.
17. Bell-bottoms came in style, went out of style and came back in.
18. The Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox and the Florida Marlins have all won the World Series.
19. The Cubs played 14,153 regular-season games; they lost the majority of them.
20. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Oklahoma and New Mexico were added to the Union.

Talladega Bans 14 Beer Can Throwing Fans….Is that all?

I can’t help but chuckle when reading today that Talladega Superspeedway permanently banned 14 fans. The 14 were arrested for throwing objects (full beer cans) at Jeff Gordon after Gordon won last Sunday’s race.

Here’s were it gets real good……….Speedway President Grant Lynch said identifying other fans was harder than he imagined. Hundreds if not thousands of fans were chucking their favorite brew at Gordon. And all they could get was 14????? That is classic. Mix in some security.

This is real simple folks. All NASCAR has to do is ban coolers inside in the grandstands. It has been a long standing tradition, but one that several idiots don’t think is a luxury. Have you ever tried to take cooler into an NFL, NHL, or college football game? Doesn’t happen for this exact reason.

Come on NASCAR!! You’re letting good suds go to waste………And somebody is gonna get hurt.

Do you think NASCAR should ban coolers in the grandstands?

………Vols hit Prime-Time again….

This just down from ABC sports….

Tennessee’s first football game of the year, against Cal, in California, will be televised in Prime Time by ABC starting at 7.

It will be labor day weekend and college football will be in full force. The Pros don’t start until the next weekend, so college takes center stage and the Vols will be right there.

Some have picked Cal as high as 5th coming into the season so the Big Orange will be well tested right out of the gate.

Gotta give it to Fulmer and the boys for not playing a cream puff to start the season.

Saturday, September 1st, 7pm, Vols in prime time.

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